News In The Hebden Bridge List

Yorkshire Forward Shortlist Todmorden For New Enterprise Centre

Yorkshire Forward has approached Calderdale Council to suggest a suitable site in Todmorden for the development of a new enterprise centre.b Yorkshire Forward has introduced a new programme to create a network of enterprise centres in rural parts of the region. The initial stages include conducting a survey of suitable locations around Yorkshire.

Todmorden is currently on a remaining shortlist of 16 locations for the construction of a new enterprise centre (beating competition to date from 60 contenders across the region.) Following conclusion of the initial surveys by Yorkshire Forward, it is hoped that Todmorden will make the final list of locations to house one of the centres – an official decision by Yorkshire Forward is expected shortly.

A report is being taken to Calderdale Council’s Cabinet on 5 October 2009. It will suggest that the land on which the previous Rose Street Health Centre, Todmorden is put forward as a suitable location.

Councillor Byrne, Portfolio Holder Regeneration and Development;
“We recognise the need to encourage new enterprise in Todmorden to further the regeneration of the town. This area of land is at the heart of the town centre and the key acquisition of this integral building and subsequent demolition and landscaping by the Council is imminent.

“Rose Street is an ideal location for a vibrant hub, creating new business opportunities.”

The detail of the agreement with current owners, the Primary Care Trust, has now been finalised. In addition funding has now been formally approved by Yorkshire Forward to fund the purchase of the Rose Street Health Centre building to enable further positive regeneration of the town centre to take place.

A condition of receiving funding from Yorkshire Forward is that the site is redeveloped to capitalise on its excellent location and to create new jobs and enterprise locally. This means that the existing building needs to be demolished to make way for a new bespoke fit-for-purpose building that will contribute greatly in creating a new pulse for the town centre and improve the facilitates available and vibrancy in the centre for both the local community and local business alike. Initial proposals are to create a mixed use space with an enterprise centre on an upper floor of a building containing potentially some small retail units and a cafe on the ground floor. This fits excellently into the development brief guidelines agreed by the community through the Todmorden Town Centre Renaissance Board. They were developed following the extensive and successful public consultation earlier in the year and has received the full support of Todmorden Pride alongside several other community and business groups in the local area.

Cllr Cooper, Chair of the Todmorden Town Centre Renaissance Project Board; “This is an exciting opportunity and will contribute to the Todmorden Town Centre Renaissance Project, it is particularly pleasing to see the results of so much effort over the past 18 months begin to see the light of day. It is hoped that this will create a new pulse for the town centre.”

Following completion of the purchase of the Rose Street Centre preparations and survey works to demolish the building will commence and should take an estimated 8 weeks to complete. The demolition of the building will then follow and will take 6 weeks. The footprint of the building will then be subject to a comprehensive landscaping, taking around 6 weeks ensuring the town centre looks attractive to the community, business, tourists and investors alike until construction of the proposed new building can commence.